Mungindi will be placed on level four water restrictions for two days, effective immediately.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The restrictions comes as a result of a plant failure at council's onsite water treatment plant in Mungindi.
As a result, level four water restrictions will be in place from Monday, November 30 until midnight on Wednesday, December 2.
"Today's level four water restrictions are unfortunate but unavoidable, given a significant failure at our water treatment plant," council's general manager Lester Rodgers said.
"We encourage residents to work with us over the next few days while we replenish our water supplies in the reservoir.
"Decisions such as these aren't taken lightly by council and we urge all Mungindi community members to adhere to these restrictions in the short-term."
READ ALSO:
For Mungindi household water users, the following restrictions apply:
- Hand held hoses are only to be used when watering lawns and gardens. Watering may only take place between 6am-8am and 6pm-8pm during summer. Buckets and recycled water may be used at any time;
- Paved and concrete surfaces are not to be washed down;
- Covered pools may only be topped up using hand held hoses during the hours allowed for general watering noted above;
- Car washing can only occur at commercial car washes that recycle water;
- Only water from a bucket can be used while undertaking home extensions or landscaping;
- Water can only be carted for domestic purposes;
- Washing of clothes is only permitted with full loads, adhering to the odds and even system;
- Households with odd street numbers are permitted to use their washing machine on odd dates;
- Households with even street numbers are permitted to use their washing machine on even dates.
- Households with odd street numbers are permitted to use their washing machine on odd dates;
- Households with odd street numbers are permitted to use their washing machine on odd dates;
- Households with even street numbers are permitted to use their washing machine on even dates.
- Residents are encouraged to have short showers (between 3-5 minutes);
- Pets are only to be washed using water from a bucket;
- Residents are encouraged to reduce usage of evaporative air coolers;
- All fountains are to be turned off and not to be topped up except for safety reasons.
For commercial and industrial water users in Mungindi, the following restrictions will apply:
- Irrigation (Efficient User) consumption should be reduced by 50 per cent;
- Irrigation (Non Efficient User) consumption should be reduced by 50 per cent;
- All fountains are to be turned off and not to be topped up except for safety reasons;
- Public swimming pools are to be operated with maximum efficiency;
- Water can only be carted for domestic purposes;
- Businesses must make greater endeavours to minimise water usage;
- Car washing can only occur at commercial car washes that recycle water;
- Only commercial car washes that recycle water will be allowed to operate;
- Washing of commercial buildings and windows is banned.
Water levels in Mungindi are particularly concerning generally, with low rainfall over recent months and no river flow.
Last summer, residents will recall that a number of infrastructure upgrades were undertaken to supplement and ultimately replace the Mungindi town water supply with 100 per cent artesian water.
At the present time, Mungindi's town water is supplied largely by river water although increasing amounts of artesian water are being preemptively utilised to better preserve the town water supply.
Residents may notice that the town water supply is slightly warmer than usual as a result.
Last year, a leased cooling tower was installed to cool the artesian water prior to treatment.
Council is currently awaiting delivery of its own cooling tower, which is coming from overseas.
Because there is some lead time prior to delivery and commissioning of council's cooling tower at Mungindi, council will be instigating more proactive measures to control water consumption in Mungindi for the remainder of the 2020 calendar year.
After midnight on Wednesday, December 2, water restrictions will accordingly drop to level two until December 31.
"After midnight Wednesday, we'll be in a much better position but with dry conditions persisting and warmer temperatures expected over coming months, we will be keeping level two water restrictions in place for the remainder of December 2020 to proactively ensure supply is preserved for Mungindi through the summer," Mr Rodgers said.
"These water restrictions will provide residents with clear guidelines on how they can reduce their water consumption and council will continue to closely monitor the supply levels."
Level two water restrictions include:
- Sprinkler systems to be used between 6am-9am and 7pm-10pm during summer in accordance with the odds and evens scheme. This means:
- Households with odd street numbers are permitted to use their sprinklers on odd dates during the times prescribed;
- Households with even street numbers are permitted to use their sprinklers on even dates during the times prescribed
- Households with odd street numbers are permitted to use their sprinklers on odd dates during the times prescribed;
- Households with odd street numbers are permitted to use their sprinklers on odd dates during the times prescribed;
- Households with even street numbers are permitted to use their sprinklers on even dates during the times prescribed
- Handheld hoses and buckets can be used at any time
- Paved and concrete surfaces are not to be washed down
- Pools may be topped up with a hand held hose and swimming pool covers are required when not in use
- Car washing can only take place using a trigger hose and bucket
- Water can only be carted from a secure water source
- Residents are encouraged to only clothes wash when they have a full load
- Fountains are to be turned off but ponds may be topped up.
For commercial and industrial water users in Mungindi, the level two restrictions include:
- Irrigation (Efficient User) consumption should be reduced by 15 per cent
- Irrigation (Non Efficient User) consumption should be reduced by 25 per cent
- Washing of commercial buildings and windows is discouraged
Further details of these water restrictions can be found on council's website www.mpsc.nsw.gov.au within its Water Supply Schemes Drought Management Plan.
If residents of Mungindi have any questions about these restrictions, they are encouraged to contact council directly.
